Estes Park Tea Party watching national events in light of IRS actions

By David Persons

Trail-Gazette

Posted:
06/05/2013 01:45:15 PM MDT

The Estes Park Tea Party Patriots have been watching closely as multiple investigations, including one by the U.S. Justice Department, continue into the U.S. Internal Revenue Service's recent practice of targeting groups seeking tax-exempt status with the words "Tea Party" or "Patriots" in their names.

Such groups were flagged for closer IRS review over the past two years, the federal agency has admitted. Those actions took place from March 2010 through May 2012 and were held during 2010 U.S. Congressional races and the 2012 presidential race.

Tax-exempt applications for groups ranging from charities to labor unions are routinely reviewed by the IRS. The Colorado Tea Party Patriots have been one of those held up - for two years - for approval of a tax-exempt 501(c)(4) status. As a result, the Estes Park Tea Party Patriots have not been able to operate financially under the umbrella of the state body.

But, they have been active, bringing in speakers, holding pizza parties, and passing out 1,100 copies of the U.S. Constitution.

They even held a rally in Bond Park where about 300 people attended.

However, Mack Hunt, who organized the Estes Park Tea Party Patriots in 2009, says the actions of the IRS and the delay in the tax-exempt status for the state has been frustrating and is causing him to slow down the local club's activities.

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An April 15 Tax Day event was canceled and a Fourth of July event is being canceled, too.

That frustration may change soon.

Regina Thomson, the state coordinator of the Colorado Tea Party Patriots, said Thursday that getting the 501(c)(4) application approved may not be necessary for her organization and others in Colorado to operate.

"I was in Washington (D.C.) recently and I was surprised to hear that organizations like ours do not have to apply with the IRS to operate under the 501(c)(4) guidelines," said Thomson.

"As long as you follow the guidelines and file a 990 tax form, you're fine. None of us (group attendees) knew that. I checked and had that confirmed with our corporate tax attorney."

Thomson said despite that, she will continue to push to get the state organization's application for a 501(c)(4) approved. It's a matter of principal, she added.

The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) announced Wednesday that it had filed a class-action lawsuit against the IRS on the behalf of 25 Tea Party groups. Colorado was not part of that action.

The backbone of the suit alleges that the IRS illegally delayed and obstructed various Tea Party groups from getting their 501(c)(4) applications approved.

Thomson said while her group missed that suit, she will likely take part in an even larger class-action suit to be filed within in the next two weeks.

"It's another class-action suit but it includes all different kinds of groups," she said.

While Thomson waits out the legal actions, she admits she is still upset with the IRS' actions.

"The IRS was asking for information about us and a list of our donors," Thomson said. "That's not right. They can ask about what we do and how we conduct our business but not who donates. That's not relevant.

"This was all about intimidation."

Meanwhile, Hunt is anxious to get things moving again locally. He said his group's focus has been and will continue to be about raising awareness about the U.S. Constitution, taxes, and the positions of politicians.